How to remove a radiator for decorating

Based on a guide from Trade Radiators, one of the UK’s leading radiator retailers. This walk-through follows the video “How To Remove A Radiator Temporarily by Trade Radiators” - a clear, no-nonsense guide to isolating and removing a radiator without calling a plumber. Good preparation makes this much cleaner than it might sound.

1. Turn off the heating and let everything cool down

Do this the night before if you can. Trying to disconnect a radiator that is still warm means scalding water coming out when you undo the unions, and a floor full of dark sludge. Cold systems are much easier to work on.

If the boiler has a programmer, set it to off rather than relying on the thermostat - you want no chance of the heating firing up mid-job.

2. Protect the floor

Lay old towels or dust sheets right up to the base of the radiator, and have a small bucket or washing-up bowl ready on each side. Some water will come out when you undo the connections, however careful you are. The water is usually a murky grey-brown colour - central heating inhibitor and oxide sludge - so protect anything you care about.

3. Close the thermostatic radiator valve (TRV)

Turn the TRV head fully clockwise until it stops. This shuts off the flow to the radiator. On the other side, the lockshield valve is capped and harder to turn - use an adjustable spanner or a pair of grips, and note how many turns it takes to close fully so you can open it the same amount when you refit. Jot it down on a piece of tape stuck to the wall.

4. Undo the union nuts

Each valve connects to the radiator via a union nut - a large, hexagonal fitting just below where the valve meets the radiator tail. Hold the valve body still with one spanner and loosen the union nut with a second. Do not force anything: if it is stiff, a little penetrating oil and ten minutes will help.

Once the union is loose, ease it away slowly and direct any drips into your bowl. There will likely be a small amount of water in the valve body itself.

5. Drain the radiator

With both unions disconnected, the radiator still has water inside it. Open the bleed valve at the top with a bleed key - just a quarter turn - and tip the radiator gently to one side to drain the water into the bucket. It will pour out of the open union. A standard single-panel radiator holds about three to four litres.

Plug both union openings on the radiator with a spare radiator plug or a folded cloth to avoid spilling anything once it is off the wall.

6. Lift the radiator off the brackets

Wall-hung radiators slot down onto bracket hooks. Lift straight up and pull the bottom of the radiator towards you. They are heavier than they look, so have a second pair of hands ready for anything above a small single-panel. Lay it flat on the dust sheets once it is off.

7. Decorate, then refit and refill

With the radiator out of the way, paint or paper properly behind the pipes and brackets. Once the wall is dry, rehang the radiator onto the brackets, reconnect both union nuts hand-tight first, then tighten with spanners. Open the lockshield valve the same number of turns you recorded, and open the TRV.

Bleed the radiator once the heating is back on and the system is up to temperature. Check both union connections for drips for the first hour or so.

When to call a handyman

If the valves look corroded, are not isolating properly, or you want the radiator moved to a different position entirely, get help. Moving a radiator permanently means extending or rerouting pipework, which is a different job altogether.